Attachment for ladders.



I. DRAKE.

ATTAOHMENT FOR LADDERS.

APPLIUATION FILEDAUG. 2. 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

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992,408. Patented May 16, 1911.

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IAMA DRAKE, OF BETTENDORF,

ron i i 1 2 Q IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO BETTENDORF TOOL COMPANY, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA.

ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented May 16, 1911.

Application filed. August 2, 1910. Serial No. 575,194.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IAMA DRAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bettendorf, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in attachments for ladders, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this character whereby the legs may be adjusted longitudinally so that a ladder may be used on incline or irregular surfaces or supports.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that will prevent the leg of a ladder from slipping when used on wet or icy surfaces or supports, an attachment that will be composed of few parts, exceedingly simple in construction and inexpensive in the cost of manufacture.

WVith these ends in view, this invention consists in details of construction and combination of elements as hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, .I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 shows a portion of a ladder with my improvement attached, or applied thereto. Fig. 2 an enlarged sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 an enlarged side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 a perspective view of the guide, and Fig. 5 a similar view of the extension member. Fig. (3 a thumb nut with lever handle.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents the guide which may be made of any suitable material but is preferably cast in one piece from some desirable metal so as to produce a frame 13, having screw receiving openings C, and provided with a lug D, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The guide is also provided with a projection or bracket E adapted to fit beneath the leg of the ladder F, as clearly shown in'Fig. 1, the device being fastened to the ladder by means of the screws G which pass through the screw receiving openings C in the frame. The guide is also provided with the side flanges H and bottom flanges I, said bottom flanges being a continuation of the side flanges as well as being formed integral with the projection E. J represents the shoe or extension member, which is also formed of a casting and is composed of parallel uprights K, with the lower ends: of which is formed the integral projection L, said projection adapted to rest between the bottom flanges I against the lower face of the projection E when the shoe or extension member is in its uppermost adjustment, or when the device is in its closed position.'

M denotes a cross piece lying between the uprights K and between said cross piece and the projection L extends a rib N. which projects beneath the projection L as indicated by N. With the lower ends of the uprights are also formed similar ribs N and these also project beneath the projection L, thus acting as grippers to prevent the ladder slipping when in use.

0 is a thumb nut having an ear or handle attached to facilitate its use without the necessity of a wrench, and is fastened'to the guide A by means of a screw or bolt which passes through the thumb nut O, and the lug I) which are threaded for that purpose.

In practice the guide is fastened to the leg of a ladder by the screws G passing through the screw receiving openings C the projection E underlying the bottom of the ladder. By turning the thumb-nut O to release or loosen the extension member J may be adjusted to overcome the irregularities in the surface on which the ladder is placed, then by tightening the thumb nut 0 will bind the extension member or shoe to the guide securely holding such extension member in its adjusted position.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown, as these may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having-thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In an attachment for ladders, a guide having a projection formed integral therewith adapted to underlie the leg of the lad-, der when the guide is fastened in position, an extension member slidably mounted on the guide, a projection formed integral therewith,

adapted to underlie the projection formed with the guide, and means for locking the extension member to its adjusted position.

2. In an attachment for ladders, a guide having a projection formed integral therewith adapted to underlie the leg of a ladder when the guide is fastened in position, an extension member slidably mounted on the guide, a projection formed integral therewith adapted to underlie the projection formed with the guide, and a thumb nut for holding the extension member in its adjusted position.

3. In a device of the character described, a guide composed of a frame having screw receiving openings therein, a lug formed with said frame, side flanges, a projection formed with the lower end of the frame and side flanges, bottom flanges form'ed integral with the projection and the lower ends of the side flanges, screws for fastening the guide to the leg of a ladder, a projection underlying the bottom of the leg, and an extension member slidably and adjustably mounted upon the guide, for the purpose set forth.

a. In a device of the character described, a guide composed of a frame having screw receiving openings therein, a lug formed with said frame, side flanges, a projection formed with the lower end of the frame and side flanges, bottom flanges formed integral with the projection and the lower ends of the side flanges, screws for fastening the guide to the leg of the ladder, the projection underlying the bottom of the leg, an extension member slidably mounted upon the guide, said extension member being composed of two parallel uprights, a projection formed with the lower end thereof, a cross piece lying between the uprights, a rib extending from the cross piece downward and projecting beneath a projection, other similar ribs formed with the lower ends of the uprights and underlying the projection, a thumb nut provided with a handle and the lug formed with the guide and threaded to receive bolt or screw.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ailixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IAMA DRAKE.

lVitnesses:

Bnssm OLLIosi-iLoonR, WV. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents, Washington, D. G. 

